Chapter 38 - The Supporting Villain Is Raising a Cub Online

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Bacon, Sausage, Fried Chicken.

 

 

Today was Rong Jinkang's birthday banquet, and naturally, his legitimate son, Rong Sheng, had to attend.

 

Although Tan Qing thought that throwing a grand banquet at sixty was more of a life-shortening event, it had been a while since he had last seen Rong Sheng—let alone had a chance to lighten Rong Sheng's wallet.

 

Tan Qing's eyes twinkled mischievously as he raised his hand with a bright smile, greeting the man walking toward him, "President Rong, long time no see! You're looking more handsome than ever!"

 

Rong Sheng laughed heartily, first patting He Mingyu's shoulder before turning to Tan Qing. "It has been a while, hasn't it? Your sweet talk just keeps getting better."

 

Tan Qing sidled up to him, extending his hand expectantly. "Five thousand per line, payment upfront."

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

He grabbed a glass of wine from the tray on the table and firmly declined, "No thanks, I'll stick with hiring internet trolls—only fifty cents per comment."

 

Tan Qing huffed in indignation and reached out to grab a drink for himself.

 

Before he could touch it, He Mingyu's calm voice came from behind him, "Your stomach is still empty. Don't drink on an empty stomach."

 

Tan Qing: "…"

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Tan Qing had already survived many hardships in life, but it seemed it was Rong Sheng who still couldn't quite get used to He Mingyu's particular style.

 

With a glass in hand, Rong Sheng turned to He Mingyu and clinked it against his. "Damn, so much fuss over a drink. He Mingyu, are you raising a lover or a child?"

 

He Mingyu glanced at Tan Qing before leisurely raising his glass to clink with Rong Sheng's, replying with composure, "That's something you'll have to ask him—whether he wants me as his godfather* or something else."

 

[T/N: As stated before, that word can literally be translated to "godfather" and interpreted in some situations as "sugar daddy".]

 

Tan Qing: "…"

 

As Shengjing Entertainment's executive director, Rong Sheng had seen plenty of such things over the years and wasn't the least bit surprised. Instead, he chuckled and looked Tan Qing up and down. "Not bad, Qingqing. So, you really plan to make He Mingyu your godfather?"

 

Tan Qing took a sip of his wine, grinding his teeth before responding cheerfully, "Fine by me. I'll just go home tonight and teach Tan Jiji how to call him grandpa."

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

Rong Sheng laughed so hard he nearly doubled over, slapping his thigh and struggling to stay upright. It took him a while to recover from his fit of laughter.

 

Suddenly, he noticed He Mingyu was still holding the champagne glass that had been retrieved from the top of the tower earlier. He turned to Tan Qing and asked, "Wait a minute, isn't that the glass you just took down from the champagne tower? How come it's still in He Mingyu's hand?"

 

Tan Qing's face clouded with irritation as he complained, "He said the champagne they use for the tower is bad, and the top glass is closest to the ceiling, so it collects dust. Ugh, godfather, you're so annoying! Are you an old man or what?"

 

Tan Qing's "godfather": "…"

 

Afraid he might burst into another laughing fit or that someone would catch it on camera, Rong Sheng shook his head, reluctantly agreeing with He Mingyu's point of view. He picked up another glass of champagne, identical to the one He Mingyu held, and handed it to Tan Qing. Holding back his laughter, he offered some consolation, "He's not entirely wrong. Don't be mad. He Mingyu's always been this way since our school days—trust me, you'll get used to it."

 

Tan Qing: "…"

 

Before he could get used to it, he might just kick He Mingyu to the curb.

 

With a huff, Tan Qing grabbed a plate and stomped off like a crab, heading into the hall to find some snacks and meat.

 

Rong Sheng remained where he was, his gaze falling back on the champagne tower. After staring at it for a while, he nudged He Mingyu with his elbow. "Hey, Old He."

 

He Mingyu shifted to the side, neatly avoiding Rong Sheng's elbow, and calmly adjusted his cufflinks. "What is it?"

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Damn it!

 

How did I end up making friends with such a frustrating guy back in elementary school?

 

Rong Sheng pulled his elbow back in frustration, straightened his suit, and stood there as poised and cold as He Mingyu.

 

But he didn't last more than two minutes before calling out again, "He Mingyu, the last time you caused this much of a scene was back in elementary school when someone ripped up your homework, wasn't it?"

 

He Mingyu's unapproachable aura kept many people who wanted to chat at bay. He raised a brow and asked indifferently, "What scene?"

 

Rong Sheng clicked his tongue, "Back in fifth grade. That dumb rich kid!"

 

He Mingyu, emotionless as ever: "Sorry, I don't remember."

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

He Mingyu's mother had her own unique philosophy when it came to raising children and didn't want him to be subjected to aristocratic education too early.

 

At the time, Rong Jinkang hadn't achieved his current success either.

 

That's how the two ended up attending the same elementary school.

 

Even as a child, He Mingyu was quiet and reserved.

 

On top of that, he was a top student.

 

In fact, he was the kind of top student who made the second-place student question their life choices after every exam.

 

By fifth grade, the second place was consistently held by a girl from the neighboring class.

 

This girl happened to be the school beauty, with a particularly precocious rich kid pursuing her.

 

The young rich kid felt sorry for his little goddess, who always came second, so during the week before the final exams, he secretly tore up He Mingyu's study notes for three days straight.

 

On the first day, He Mingyu reported the situation to his homeroom teacher.

 

The teacher, hesitant to offend the rich kid's family, didn't take any action.

 

On the second day, He Mingyu knocked on the principal's door.

 

The principal had close ties to the rich kid's family and, with a mix of coaxing and dismissiveness, shooed He Mingyu out of the office.

 

On the third day, He Mingyu made a scene in front of the entire class during a lesson.

 

Slowly and deliberately, he pulled out a pair of sharp, gleaming scissors from his nearly empty backpack.

 

Without a hint of panic, he stood up in the middle of the lesson, walked over to the rich kid's desk, and pulled the kid's backpack out from the storage under the desk.

 

In full view of the entire class and the teacher, he cut it into shreds, one snip at a time.

 

The homeroom teacher, in all her years of teaching, had never encountered a student with such a demeanor. Just as she reached out to stop He Mingyu, he looked up at her calmly and said, "Teacher, there's a limit to everything."

 

That afternoon, the shaken homeroom teacher called in both the rich kid's parents and He Mingyu's.

 

He Mingyu's mother was away on a diplomatic trip with a delegation, so she asked He Mingyu's father to take time out of his day to go to the school.

 

Following his wife's orders, He Mingyu's father had no choice but to push back his afternoon meetings and ask his security guards to drive him to the elementary school.

 

The guards didn't have much of a choice either.

 

So, at the time when school was letting out, three Hongqi sedans lined up in front of the school gate.

 

The guards stepped out, forming a neat line, escorting the stern-faced father all the way into the school.

 

And that was that.

 

Soon after, He Mingyu skipped a grade and was enrolled in a private middle school.

 

Not long after, Rong Jinkang transferred Rong Sheng as well.

 

From then on, Rong Sheng understood one thing.

 

He Mingyu was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

That incident in elementary school was both the first and last time He Mingyu ever made a public scene.

 

Afterward, he probably got scolded by his parents because from then on, his tactics became more covert, and his demeanor only grew more composed and understated.

 

If it weren't for the fact that everyone who crossed He Mingyu seemed to end up with terrible luck—

 

Rong Sheng might've thought he was destined to become some sort of health blogger.

 

Health blogger, my foot!

 

Rong Sheng glanced in the direction Tan Qing had disappeared, then downed his drink, his words seemingly loaded with meaning, "Seeing how you were just now… do you really like him?"

 

He Mingyu gave him a sidelong glance, his voice as cool and dignified as ever, "Does it matter to you?"

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Rong Sheng was so annoyed that he nearly swallowed the glass with his drink. He choked on the wine and coughed twice before putting the glass aside with difficulty.

 

Maybe it was because he had downed his drink too quickly, but Rong Sheng felt a rough, bitter sensation in his throat.

 

He waved his hand, "Fine, forget I said anything! I just think, with someone like Tan Qing, it's pretty easy for people to like him."

 

Straightforward and passionate.

 

With an irresistible allure.

 

He's the kind of person who makes people fall for him too easily.

 

He Mingyu hadn't expected Rong Sheng to come out with such a statement, so he paused for a moment before responding with two simple words: "Him? Ha."

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

It looked like Rong Sheng wanted to say more, but at that moment, Rong Jinkang and his wife, Hong Yue, made their entrance on the banquet carpet.

 

Everyone around them began to clap, and as Rong Jinkang's son, Rong Sheng couldn't continue the conversation. He had no choice but to turn his attention to the stage and join in the applause.

 

Right at that moment, Tan Qing returned from his food hunt, carrying a small tray filled with treats. He tiptoed back to where He Mingyu and Rong Sheng were standing.

 

Tan Qing's cheeks were stuffed with two mini cakes, puffing his face out into a round shape.

 

Lowering his head, he quickly devoured the sweet little cakes. Once the applause died down, he lifted his tray and showed it to Rong Sheng, "Take a look, want something?"

 

Rong Sheng, feeling touched, carefully picked out a blueberry yam dish.

 

Just as he was about to grab it, Tan Qing named his price: "That'll be three thousand eight hundred per piece!"

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Stunned, Rong Sheng clutched his chest. "Dear ancestor, are you kidding me? I paid for all the food here! The most I can offer is five hundred for delivery fees!"

 

Tan Qing was easygoing and nodded in agreement. "Deal."

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Under He Mingyu's watchful eye, the two completed an illegitimate, unfair, and undoubtedly shady transaction.

 

With a heavy heart, Rong Sheng swallowed the expensive blueberry yam, then glanced at the rest of the items on Tan Qing's tray.

 

Bacon, sausage, fried chicken.

 

Yep, pretty much all of Tan Qing's favorites.

 

Before Rong Sheng could even ask how much the rest of the food would cost him, He Mingyu, standing nearby, frowned and spoke first. "Did you even look at the banquet menu?"

 

Rong Sheng paused for a moment. "Of course I did. Who hosts a banquet without checking the menu?"

 

He Mingyu shot him a glance, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Then it's odd. Most of the guests your father invited are elderly, and sausages and fried chicken aren't exactly their taste."

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Meanwhile, Tan Qing happily munched away, quietly watching the exchange. He leaned over to Rong Sheng and whispered reassuringly, "Don't mind him. He just doesn't want us to eat! Let's keep it on the down-low."

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

He Mingyu shot Rong Sheng a cold, expressionless glance.

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Just as Rong Sheng was about to explain that he didn't particularly want to eat fried chicken or sausages but had only included them to balance the menu, Rong Jinkang, who stood at the banquet stage, finally began to speak.

 

Despite being sixty years old, thanks to either meticulous self-care or his love of dating younger women, Rong Jinkang's hair remained jet-black, and his face still appeared energetic.

 

In contrast, Hong Yue, standing beside him, had clearly aged.

 

Holding Hong Yue's hand, Rong Jinkang accepted the microphone from the emcee with grace and bowed slightly to the crowd. "Thank you, brothers and sisters, for taking the time to attend my birthday banquet."

 

The audience erupted into applause once more.

 

Smiling, Rong Jinkang continued, "The success I've achieved over the years wouldn't have been possible without your support. Today, aside from sharing the joy of my birthday with you all, I'd also like to take this opportunity to announce something."

 

During those few words, Tan Qing had nearly finished all the food on his tray. He glanced at the stage and, without a second thought, fished a checkered handkerchief out of He Mingyu's suit pocket.

 

He casually wiped his mouth and hands, then calmly returned the handkerchief to He Mingyu's pocket.

 

He Mingyu sighed and grabbed Tan Qing's greasy hands.

 

Still chewing on a piece of bacon, Tan Qing gestured toward the stage and whispered to He Mingyu, "Look at Rong Jinkang's wife. I bet his next sentence isn't going to be good news."

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

Sighing again, He Mingyu pulled out the handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the remaining oil from Tan Qing's mouth. "Say less."

 

"Okay…" Tan Qing obediently agreed, holding out both hands for He Mingyu to wipe clean.

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

As He Mingyu dutifully wiped each of Tan Qing's fingers, one by one, Rong Jinkang finally spoke the long-awaited words he had been preparing for so long: "Today is also the engagement day of my son, Rong Sheng, and Miss Fang Yuqiao, the only daughter of the Fang Group."

 

Huh.

 

Rong Sheng's getting engaged?

 

Tan Qing, with his freshly cleaned hand, poked He Mingyu and asked, "Who's that? Is she pretty?"

 

He Mingyu glanced at Rong Sheng, then turned back to finish wiping Tan Qing's last finger. His expression darkened. "Whether she's pretty doesn't matter. What matters is that she's the Fang Group's only daughter."

 

Onstage, Rong Jinkang wore the kind of practiced, insincere smile typical of businessmen, his tone measured and unhurried. "I hope that this couple will support each other in the future, and that the Fang Group and Shengjing Entertainment will continue to prosper together."

 

Tan Qing glanced thoughtfully at Rong Jinkang before curiously peeking out from behind He Mingyu to steal a glance at Rong Sheng.

 

Amid the growing applause, only Rong Sheng, standing in the crowd, looked ashen-faced, radiating a palpable sense of cold dread.

 

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